SC panel makes report on sealing

MCD has rejected the SC ruling of resuming the sealing drive in the the southern zone of the capital, reports Vibha Sharma.

The Supreme Court’s Monitoring Committee has taken note of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD’s) "reluctance" to resume the sealing drive in the Capital on Friday despite the panel's direction and has prepared a report to this effect.

The three-member panel, headed by Bhure Lal, is understood to have prepared a “detailed” report on developments in the past two-three days, including the deferment of the sealing drive against illegal shops in residential premises time and again. On Thursday, the sealing drive was postponed until November 6.

The panel has “definitely prepared a report that will have all details regarding the recent developments” on the issue, sources said. The report has been submitted to the Supreme Court.

Asked about action being contemplated against the MCD for its non-compliance with the panel’s directions, a source said, “We will decide on it later.”

“No comments,” was the terse reply when asked whether there was any confrontation between the government and the panel, which also has former bureaucrats KJ Rao and Major General (retired) S.P. Jhingan as members.

It is learnt that when MCD officials cited the tense law and order situation in the city to justify their reluctance to resume the sealing drive, the Monitoring Committee suggested to the corporation that it could go ahead with the sealing drive in the south zone and seal illegal shops in category A and B colonies.

The Monitoring Committee members had contended that the shops in the category A and B colonies were not protected under the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act or the amended Master Plan 2001.

“The main contention is about the establishments along the 2,183 stretches and the shops of the 48,000 traders who had earlier submitted affidavits giving an undertaking to close their shops by June 30. There is, however, no dispute on the fact that all shops in category A and B colonies have to be sealed,” said a senior MCD officer.

The court panel had suggested that instead of resuming the sealing drive throughout the city, which could flare up the tense law and order situation, the MCD could concentrate all the available police force on the south zone, which houses the maximum number of category A and B colonies.

However, the MCD had turned down even this suggestion and was reluctant to resume the drive altogether.